A full, thick, head of hair is commonly associated with youth and beauty. Men and women that are experiencing hair loss may have feelings of depression, low self-esteem or anxiety. Platelet-rich plasma therapy may help slow hair loss due to hereditary baldness.
FDA medications approved for the treatment of baldness for include, minoxidil (Rogaine), approved for use in both men and women, finasteride (Propecia) approved for use in men. Other treatments include dutasteride for men, or oral contraceptives for women. However, oral medications have possible unwanted side effects including:
- Severe scalp irritation
- Unwanted facial hair
- Chest pain
- Weight gain
- Swelling in the hands or feet
- Headache, dizziness or confusion
- Diminished sex drive
- Increased risk of prostate cancer
About Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP)
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is used to accelerate healing after dental surgery or sports injuries and is also used to combat age-related conditions such as wrinkles, fine lines, loose, or saggy skin or osteoarthritis. PRP is a concentrated source of blood plasma that is derived from whole blood. It contains a concentration of growth factors that can speed up the healing process by stimulating healing of soft tissue and joints.
Normal whole blood is made up of approximately 93% red blood cells, 6% white blood cells and 1% platelets. For PRP the concentration of platelets is 94%, and it is full of growth factors and cytokines that will stimulate cell regeneration and accelerate healing. PRP therapy is a concentration of up to 7 different growth factors and cytokines that reduce inflammation and pain and accelerates tissue regeneration and healing.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Hereditary Baldness
Researchers conducted a systematic review of studies evaluating the efficacy of PRP for hair loss and found PRP injections can slow hair loss, and in some cases can help regrow hair, in men and women diagnosed with hereditary hair loss. The results of their analysis were published in June, 2019 in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00266-019-01391-9
After conducting an extensive literature search, researchers analyzed 11 articles that included 262 patients diagnosed with hereditary baldness and found local PRP injections significantly increased hair density when compared to the control subjects. The authors concluded, “Most studies suggest that subcutaneous injection of PRP is likely to reduce hair loss, increase hair diameter and density in patients with androgenic alopecia.
The best candidates for treatment include:
- Individuals with mild to moderate hair thinning
- Those with hair loss at the temples or crown of the head
- People diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia or hereditary hair loss
PRP is also being evaluated in patients with hair loss due to alopecia areata or traction alopecia.
How is PRP created?
Blood contains plasma, red cells, white cells and platelets. Platelets contain proteins called growth factors that are critical to cell regeneration and healing. For PRP therapy, a small amount blood is drawn from the patient and then put into a centrifuge, a device that spins at a very high speed, separating the platelets from the other components of the blood. The result is a concentration of platelets 3-10 times higher than normal physiological levels. This concentration is then reinjected back into the patient, in the specific area that needs to be treated.
How are PRP injections administered?
- A medical professional draws blood from a vein in the arm.
- They place the blood sample in a centrifuge.
- The centrifuge spins the blood, separating its components.
- A medical professional extracts the platelets using a syringe.
- A doctor injects the platelets into targeted areas of the scalp.
The entire process takes approximately 1 hour. PRP is not a cure, and a person typically requires multiple 1-hour sessions. The number of follow-up visits will depend on the severity of hair loss and the initial results.
Since PRP is a treatment that uses a patient’s own blood, there are few side effects. After receiving PRP treatment, a person can usually return to their regular activities without any limitations.
Side effects may include:
- Discomfort at the injection site
- Scalp tenderness
- Swelling
- Headache
About the Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic
The Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic is Central America’s most experienced Age Management Clinic. Our focus is your health and vitality. By optimizing hormone levels, replacing nutrient deficiencies through natural methods and providing education on disease prevention and wellness we can help you optimize your health; decreasing body fat, increasing muscle mass and muscle tone, improving insulin and hormone levels naturally, increasing energy levels and sexual vitality and improving mental acuity.
Our services include:
- Bio-identical hormone therapy for men and women including HGH therapy
- Platelet-rich plasma therapy
- P-shot PRP for men
- Facial rejuvenation
- Chelation therapy
- Food intolerance testing
- Weight loss and nutritional counseling
Scientific References:
- Mao, G., Zhang, G. & Fan, W. Aesth Plast Surg (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-019-01391-9
